New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio received an endorsement for re-election from The New York Times editorial board.

The headline on the board's editorial said de Blasio is "the best Democratic choice" for the position.

When de Blasio, "the most left-wing mayor in New York's modern history," became mayor in 2014, critics expected poor results, according to the board. However, de Blasio exceeded expectations.

"New York remains, on the whole, well run. Crime has continued its remarkable decline. Garbage is collected as efficiently as ever. The local economy is humming, and municipal finances are sound, with steady budget surpluses. Most unions representing city workers are content."

"We firmly endorse Mr. de Blasio in this primary as he seeks a second, and final term and urge Democratic voters to support him next Tuesday over four lesser-known opponents. His able stewardship of the country's largest and most cantankerous city deserves to be rewarded," the board wrote.

However, the endorsement did not include universal praise for the Democratic mayor. "There is a moral haughtiness that has served him and the city ill … it also renders him almost incapable of publicly admitting error," the board wrote.

The board issued a warning to de Blasio about focusing on higher office beyond the mayorship. "He might also bear in mind, in case he has lofty aspirations, that no New York mayor has won election to higher office since the 1860s."